FDL Reads: Queenspotting

Queenspotting: Meet the Remarkable Queen Bee and Discover the Drama at the Heart of the Hive by Hilary Kearney

Reviewed By: Rebecca Cox, Business Manager

Genre: Nonfiction

Suggested Age:  Adults

What is This Book About?  Queenspotting is part introductory honey bee biology and part “Where’s Waldo?” as Hilary Kearney introduces the readers to the dynamics of a honey bee colony. The book puts scientific concepts into easy to understand terms and the 48 fold-out visual puzzles offer a fun break and game for both adults and kids!

My Review: I am a 5th Year Beekeeper and this is my favorite book to recommend to both beginner beekeepers and people who are just interested in these fascinating little creatures! I love how Kearney is able to break down concepts that seem complicated (such as the different “castes” or types of bees in the colony or the different types of queen cells that can be present when a beekeeper is looking at frames). The fold out puzzles have practical application for beekeepers since the ability to locate the queen is one of the most important skills to have. The puzzles are also fun to challenge kids (or husbands!) with to see who can find the queen the fastest! This book is not a long read and the information is written in such an engaging way that it’s honestly hard to put down!

Three Words that Describe this Book: Inspiring, Informative, Beautiful

Give this a try if you like… Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas Tallamy; Slow Down: 50 Mindful Moments in Nature by Rachel Williams; Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

FDL Reads

2024-01-31T15:23:07-06:00January 31st, 2024|

FDL Reads: Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

Reviewed by: Susie Rivera, Adult Services Specialist

Genre: Fantasy

Suggested Age: Teens, Adults

What is this book about? Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is Sanderson’s third secret novel in his Kickstarter-backed Secret Novels project that he started in 2020. Nikaro is a painter on a world where nightmares run wild. Painters are civil servants who are able to “trap” nightmares with paintings. His city, Kilahito, is perpetually dark but powered by cyan and magenta hion lines. It has the feel of a modern-day Tokyo. Yumi is a traveling priestess living in a very different location. She has the power to summon mystical spirits who are able to help her people. One day the two are unexpectedly thrust into each other’s worlds and must adapt to the vastly different ways of life.

My Review: This novel takes place in Sanderson’s Cosmere. There are several references to other novels and a couple characters from a different series show up. Sanderson fans will be delighted! However, newbies to the Cosmere could potentially jump into this book, even though it takes place farther into the timeline, and enjoy it as a stand-alone. Sanderson himself has started to recommend it as a beginning point for those interested in the Cosmere novels. I enjoyed his attempt at writing romance. I knew going into it that it would not be the same type of romance as Fourth Wing or ACOTAR. I loved the characters connection and how they got to know each other. The big reveals at the end were very reminiscent of other Sanderson works, but unique and exciting on their own. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a Japanese/Korean-inspired fantasy with a clean romance story.

Three Words that Describe this Book: Duality, Mystical, Sweet

Give this a try if you like…Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson, This is How You Lose the Time War by
Amal El-Mohtar, The Fragile Threads of Power by Victoria Schwab

Rating: 4/5

Find it at the library!

Streaming audio available on hoopla

FDL Reads

2024-01-28T14:26:39-06:00January 28th, 2024|

#FDL: Historical Fiction – January Giveaway

Historical fiction a genre of story-telling where events are set in a real place during a culturally significant time, usually at least 50 years prior to publication.  The details of the story can include a mixture of actual and imagined people and events. Here are four upcoming historical fiction titles.

 

 

 

 

 

Clear by Carys Davies

Expected publication: 04/02/24

Scotland, 1840s

John, an impoverished Scottish minister, has accepted a job evicting the lone remaining occupant of an island north of Scotland—Ivar, who has been living alone for decades, with only the animals and the sea for company. Though his wife, Mary, has serious misgivings about the errand, he decides to go anyway, setting in motion a chain of events that neither he nor Mary could have predicted.

Shortly after John reaches the island, he falls down a cliff and is found, unconscious and badly injured, by Ivar who takes him home and tends to his wounds. The two men do not speak a common language, but as John builds a dictionary of Ivar’s world, they learn to communicate and, as Ivar sees himself for the first time in decades reflected through the eyes of another person, they build a fragile, unusual connection.

Unfolding in the 1840s in the final stages of the infamous Scottish Clearances—which saw whole communities of the rural poor driven off the land in a relentless program of forced evictions—this singular, beautiful, deeply surprising novel explores the differences and connections between us, the way history shapes our deepest convictions, and how the human spirit can survive despite all odds. Moving and unpredictable, sensitive and spellbinding, Clear is a profound and pleasurable read.

 

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson by Ellen Baker

Expected publication: 02/20/24

American Midwest, early 20th century

In 1924, four-year-old Cecily Larson’s mother reluctantly drops her off at an orphanage in Chicago, promising to be back once she’s made enough money to support both Cecily and herself. But she never returns, and shortly after high-spirited Cecily turns seven, she is sold to a traveling circus to perform as the “little sister” to glamorous bareback rider Isabelle DuMonde. With Isabelle and the rest of the circus, Cecily finally feels she’s found the family she craves. But as the years go by, the cracks in her little world begin to show. And when teenage Cecily meets and falls in love with a young roustabout named Lucky, she finds her life thrown onto an entirely unexpected—and dangerous—course.

In 2015, Cecily is now 94 and living a quiet life in Minnesota, with her daughter, granddaughter, and great-grandson. But when her family decides to surprise her with an at-home DNA test, the unexpected results not only bring to light the tragic love story that Cecily has kept hidden for decades but also throw into question everything about the family she’s raised and claimed as her own for nearly seventy years. Cecily and everyone in her life must now decide who they really are and what family—and forgiveness—really mean.

Sweeping through a long period of contemporary history, The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson is an immersive, compelling, and entertaining family drama centered around one remarkable woman and her determination to survive.

 

The Things We Didn’t Know by Elba Iris Pérez

Expected publications: 02/06/24

Massachusetts & Puerto Rico, 1950s

Andrea Rodríguez is nine years old when her mother whisks her and her brother, Pablo, away from Woronoco, the tiny Massachusetts factory town that is the only home they’ve known. With no plan and no money, she leaves them with family in the mountainside villages of Puerto Rico and promises to return.

Months later, when Andrea and Pablo are brought back to Massachusetts, they find their hometown significantly changed. As they navigate the rifts between their family’s values and all-American culture and face the harsh realities of growing up, they must embrace both the triumphs and heartache that mark the journey to adulthood.

A heartfelt, evocative portrait of another side of life in 1950s America, The Things We Didn’t Know establishes Elba Iris Pérez as a sensational new literary voice.

 

The Queen of Sugar Hill: A Novel of Hattie McDaniel by ReShonda Tate

Expected publication: 01/30/24

Los Angeles, 1940s

It was supposed to be the highlight of her career, the pinnacle for which she’d worked all her life. And as Hattie McDaniel took the stage in 1940 to claim an honor that would make her the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award, she tearfully took her place in history. Between personal triumphs and tragedies, heartbreaking losses, and severe setbacks, this historic night of winning best supporting actress for her role as the sassy Mammy in the controversial movie Gone With the Wind was going to be life-changing.
Or so she thought.

Months after winning the award, not only did the Oscar curse set in where Hattie couldn’t find work, but she found herself thrust in the middle of two worlds—Black and White—and not being welcomed in either. Whites only saw her as Mammy and Blacks detested the demeaning portrayal.

As the NAACP waged an all-out war against Hattie and actors like her, the emotionally conflicted actor found herself struggling daily. Through it all, Hattie continued her fight to pave a path for other Negro actors, while focusing on war efforts, fighting housing discrimination, and navigating four failed marriages. Luckily, she had a core group of friends to help her out—from Clark Gable to Louise Beavers to Ruby Berkley Goodwin and Dorothy Dandridge.

The Queen of Sugar Hill brings to life the powerful story of one woman who was driven by many passions—ambition, love, sex, family, friendship, and equality. In re-creating Hattie’s story, ReShonda Tate delivers an unforgettable novel of resilience, dedication, and determination—about what it takes to achieve your dreams—even when everything—and everyone—is against you.

 

Annotations from the publishers

 

Post by Melissa Friedlund, Adult Services Specialist

 

Giveaway

Enter your name here for a chance to win ARCs of the books mentioned in this post. One entry per person. Drawing to be held approximately 7 days after this post.

ARCs are “advanced reading copies.” These are free copies of a new books given by a publisher to librarians and other reviewers before the book is printed for mass distribution.

#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and East Peoria.

2024-01-25T15:31:02-06:00January 25th, 2024|

#FDL: Staff Favorites from 2023

FDL staff members read a wide variety of books last year! These are just a few of their favorites from 2023. Click on a title below to find it in our catalog.

Breaking Cat News series by Georgia Dunn “These are comic anthologies on the Libby app. They were a fun way to pack in just a few minutes of reading at a time as I was navigating becoming a parent this year. The comics are absolutely hilarious, whether you are a cat owner or not! Tip: don’t read these while rocking your newborn baby to sleep because you WILL laugh out loud and wake them.” – Chelsea, Youth Services

The London Séance Society by Sarah PennerShe also wrote The Lost Apothecary (another book I loved). What I liked: A skeptical assistant to a renowned psychic tries to solve her sister’s murder, only to find out things are not what they seem. This is a great book for those who love gothic tales of the paranormal with strong women characters. – Christy Schurter, Youth Services

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon SandersonTress is a fun adventure story on a planet with compelling worldbuilding.” – Nick, Circulation

The Housemaid, by Frieda McFadden. “It has twisty, exciting plot. I found myself rooting for people halfway through the book that I really disliked when the book started. It kept me on my toes!” -Sylvia, Circulation

Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel “It was an amazing story. I love reading about World War II and strong women of that time period” – Nancy Scott, Adult Services

Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway “This novel is about a detective who investigates crime involving pseudo-immortal plutocrats known as “Titans,” and a Titan has been murdered. This is a great book that blends genres reminiscent of Raymond Chandler and William Gibson: a hard boiled cyberpunk whodunit.” – Jeremy, Adult Services

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson “I really liked this book for the twists and turns – there were multiple times the plot took an abrupt left turn away from my expectations of how fantasy books about dictators and the rebellions they spawn are supposed to go. All of the characters are really thought out and have a lot of depth to them, which helps make the world that much more immersive.” – Alice, Youth Services

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi “Mysterious, gothic and lyrical, this novel is beautiful and the story kept me wondering just how dark Indigo’s past really was.” – Susie, Adult Services

Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts “This is a beautifully written, but imagined, story of how the movie “The Wizard of Oz” was made with the involvement of L. Frank Baum’s wife, Maude Gage Baum, after his death. While parts of the story are true to fact, some embellishment keeps it from being a true biography. But it is still a great read!” – Becky, Adult Services

#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.

2024-01-12T10:33:44-06:00January 11th, 2024|

New Year, New You!

New Year, New You!

Are you looking for simple, proven ways to manage stress and set your goals for 2024? A December 2023 article in the 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 called, “10 Ways to Support Your Mental Health in 2024,” says, “Now that we’re paying more attention to our inner lives, it’s also essential that we take action. Fortunately, there are a number of things that everyone can do to nourish their mental health and find moments of joy.” Here are some books at FDL that may provide a positive path into the new year:

Old-Fashioned on Purpose: Cultivating a Slower, More Joyful Life by Jill Winger

Cozy Cottage Create Your Own Cozy: 100 Practical Ways to Love Your Home and Life by Liz Marie Galvin

The Purest Bond: Understanding the Human-Canine Connection by Jennifer Golbeck

The Flourishing Woman: A Mental Health and Well-Being Guide by Cate Howell

The Anxiety Reset Method: Master Your Anxious Mind in 12 Weeks by George Collinson

Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger

Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia

Heal Yourself With Traditional Chinese Medicine: Find Relief From Chronic Pain, Stress, Hormonal Issues, and More With Natural Practice by Lily Choi

The Home Edit, Stay Organized: The Ultimate Guide to Making Systems Stick by Clea Shearer

Finding Me by Viola Davis

You Owe You: Ignite Your Power, Your Purpose, and Your Why by Chris Paul

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis

Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Can’t Hurt Me by David Coggins

The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest

Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patrirchy’s Bull**** to Master Money and Build a Life You Love by Tori Dunlap

The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté

Breathe: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor

My Hygge Home by Mike Wiking

 

2023-12-29T11:15:25-06:00December 29th, 2023|

FDL Reads: Book Lovers

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Reviewed By: Jeremy Zentner, Adult Services Assistant

Genre: Romance

Suggested Age:  Adults

What is This Book About? Nora is a ruthless literary agent who will stop at nothing to get her authors published with the best editors and publishing houses available in New York City. Charlie is one of the editors Nora needs to recruit for her client’s latest book. Charlie is cold, calculating, and brilliant. Just like Nora. After an abrasive lunch-meeting discussing her client’s latest novel, Nora is convinced more than ever that she’ll never work with Charlie again. Until, of course, she unexpectedly runs into him in Small Town, USA. A random occurrence while vacationing with her very pregnant sister who’s on her last hurrah before child number three is born. What proceeds here is a ballet of witty dialogue and small town shenanigans between Nora and Charlie as they carefully maneuver towards each other in a blossoming working relationship that becomes something more.

My Review: This was a delightful novel that managed to subvert the cliches of small town romances while simultaneously being a small town romance itself. What I enjoyed about the novel was that the characters were very unique when it came to the romance tropes. I also appreciated the narrator’s snarky inner-monologue as she weaved through this rather podunk town that had as many charms as it did foibles. The main strength of the book, however, is the dynamic nature between Nora and Charlie. They start out as mild rivals (building on the haters-to-lovers trope) and quickly realize that they compliment each other with their high-intense work ethic and posh lifestyles. They also push each other to break out of molds and have adventures in a rural community that holds quite a few secrets for Charlie and Nora. Book Lovers is a charismatic story that’s easy to read, even for people who don’t really read rom-coms. I listened to this book on the Libby App and the voice actress was INCREDIBLE.

 Three Words that Describe this Book: romance, small town, books!

 Give This A Try if You Like…  Lessons in Chemistry, Part of Your World, The Bodyguard

 Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

FDL Reads

 

2023-12-30T10:56:33-06:00December 27th, 2023|

FDL Reads: The Christmas Bookshop

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

Reviewed by:  Dawn Dickey

Genre:  Fiction / Romance

Suggested Age:  14+

What is the book about?:  Carmen Hogan, like her Scottish hometown, is down on her luck. Her longtime job in retail at the town’s last remaining department store is coming to an end as the store closes for good. It’s the end of an era, and, for Carmen, means an uncertain future. Meanwhile, Carmen’s sister Sofia is a successful lawyer in Edinburgh, with a beautiful house which she shares with an equally successful husband and three – soon to be four – children and a nanny. Sofia comes up with a hopefully brilliant solution to help a dear old client, Mr. McCredie, who runs a bookshop filled with dusty, rare and vintage books. Sofia recruits her now out-of-work sister Carmen to help turn around the finances at the bookshop. Carmen can live in Sofia’s (somewhat dreary) basement apartment and even (hurray) help with child care on the nights when nanny has evening classes. Carmen reluctantly accepts, and her bookstore and romantic adventures in the imposing (and hilly) Scottish capital begin!

My Review:  Author Jenny Colgan never disappoints. This novel is warm and inviting. The setting, lovely Edinburgh, comes alive for the reader as Carmen finds her way around Edinburgh as a resident and not just an occasional visitor, and I find the setting almost as interesting as the characters. The characters are quirky, crazy but at the same time realistic, learning and growing together in ways that they would not have imagined at the tale’s beginning. It’s a feel-good, laugh-out-loud read that I highly recommend!

Three Words That Describe This Book:  Funny, charming, heartwarming

Give This a Try if You Like…romantic comedies or novels by writers like Sophie Kinsella or Cecelia Ahern or Marian Keyes

Rating:  5/5

Find it at the library!

 

FDL Reads

 

2023-12-20T15:05:37-06:00December 20th, 2023|

FDL Reads: Born With Teeth

Born With Teeth by Kate Mulgrew

Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Assistant

Genre: Autobiography

Suggested Age: Adult

What is the book about?  Actress Kate Mulgrew came from a large Irish Catholic family in Iowa and was, quite literally, “born with teeth.”  In this memoir, the title is a metaphor for tenacity and determination. Mulgrew details how she took the reins of her life early on and created the career she wanted for herself.  Along the way, we learn about family dynamics, love affairs, career highlights, and a secret daughter given up for adoption in the late 1970’s.

My Review: Listening to the audiobook version narrated by the author was surprisingly engaging.  From the jarring way she cruelly blames herself for her baby sister’s death to behind-the-scenes glimpses of her acting career, I was sucked into the story of her life right away. I am a Star Trek fan and am most familiar with Kate Mulgrew’s character from the Star Trek: Voyager series. Her writing style and verbal delivery were enjoyable and not nearly as stiff and formal as Captain Kathryn Janeway. Filled with joys and sorrows, this book moved me to both laugh and cry.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Captivating, Charismatic, Unanticipated

Give This a Try if You Like…A Fine Romance, I Said Yes to Everything, How to Forget: A Daughter’s Memoir

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

2023-12-14T15:49:41-06:00December 14th, 2023|

#FDL: Nordic Noir for Chilly Winter Days

Nordic noir is a subgenre of  mystery fiction known for complex psychological plotlines set in Scandinavian locations.  Mainly told from the perspective of detectives, these books feature page-turning stories surrounding violence, murder, and corruption. Captivating descriptions of snowy mountains and landscapes will take you to Scandinavia without leaving your own home!

Jussi Adler-Olsen

Arnaldur Indriðason

Sara Blædel

Kjell Eriksson

Karin Fossum

Sissel-Jo Gazan

Camilla Grebe

Lotte Hammer

Peter Høeg

Anne Holt

Mons Kallentoft

Robert Karjel

Hannah Kent

Lars Kepler

Camilla Läckberg

Stieg Larsson

Jo Nesbø

Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

 

 

#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.

2023-12-14T15:32:16-06:00December 14th, 2023|

Contemporary Jewish Authors

Contemporary Jewish Authors

This year, Hanukkah (or the “festival of lights”) is celebrated December 7-15. Hanukkah, a Hebrew word meaning, “dedication,” is a holiday that celebrates the liberation from oppression. It also provides a strong argument in favor of freedom of worship and religion.

From providing the world with life-changing scientific solutions to writing some of the best-selling novels in the country, Jewish Americans have left an indelible mark on our country’s history.

The Best Strangers in the World by Ari Shapiro

Lost and Found by Kathryn Schutz

Once We Were Slaves by Laura Arnold Leibman

I Want You to Know We’re Still Here by Esther Safran Foer

The Grammarians by Cathleen Schine

Take What You Need by Idra Novey

My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Alpert-Florin

The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights by Kitty Zeldis

Those Who Are Saved by Alexis Landau

Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid

Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart

Stars in an Italian Sky by Jill Santopolo

Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer

More Than I Love My Life by David Grossman

The Late Comer by Jean Hanff-Korelitz

Send for Me by Lauren Fox

The House is On Fire by Rachel Beanland

My Fine Fellow by Jennieke Cohen

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Exile Music by Jennifer Steil

The Vegan by Andrew Lipstein

The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen

Other People’s Pets by R.L. Maizes

2023-11-28T16:20:21-06:00December 7th, 2023|
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